From Fox News to finding her voice somewhere else: Inside Jillian Mele’s next chapter in life
Jillian Mele has stood in front of cameras during America’s most defining moments. But the biggest transformation of her life happened after she stepped away from the spotlight.
The Emmy-winning journalist, best known as the former co-host of Fox & Friends First, built a nearly 20-year career covering everything from Super Bowls and hurricanes to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. But in 2021, at the height of her success, Mele made a bold and surprising move: she walked away.
A Reporter at the Top of Her Game
Born in Glenside, Pennsylvania, Mele was raised with a strong work ethic. She once bagged groceries in high school before rising through the local news ranks, with stops in Maine, New York, and Philadelphia. Eventually, she landed her big break on national television.
By the time she was anchoring Fox & Friends First, Mele had earned two regional Emmy Awards, co-hosted Breakfast on Broad, and filed reports from the scenes of mass shootings, global pandemics, and major political events.
“You juggle multiple deadlines… all while presenting information on live television,” she recalls. “In my mind, the main components of that job are accuracy, timeliness, working under pressure and trust.”
“For a long time, I loved what I did… until suddenly I didn’t,” she shares. “The negative stories outweigh the positive ones in many cases. And I decided that’s not who I am or how I want to use my voice.”
In 2021, she left Fox News and returned to La Salle University to pursue an MBA. By 2023, she had launched her own company, Jillian Mele Communications, offering media mentoring, public speaking training, and personal branding strategy for professionals and aspiring broadcasters alike.
New Mission, Same Passion
Today, Mele is the CEO of her own firm and the host of Skill Studio Courses, where she helps people overcome one of life’s most feared challenges: speaking in public.
Her philosophy? Preparation is everything.
“I believe that if you prepare correctly, you can feel confident and you can succeed.”
